City waiving parking fees for jazz fest, other events

Council agrees to allow change for 2017 so staff can review the current policy

Saskatoon city council is giving events and festivals a break on the cost of closing some paid parking stalls for the rest of the year.

Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to waive fees for closing parking spaces within the space of a festival event — an existing policy that was applied more consistently this year, resulting in extra costs for events.

The move came in response to a request from the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival to waive the fees for closing part of Spadina Crescent and 16 paid parking stalls to accommodate the festival’s free stage.

“I have a broader concern than just what’s happening with the jazz festival,” Coun. Ann Iwanchuk said. “I am concerned about saddling these events with unanticipated costs.”

Iwanchuk got support for her motion to waive the fees for all events and festivals for 2017 until the policy can be reviewed by city staff. The closing of the stalls along Spadina would have cost the jazz festival about $3,900; waiving fees for all such requests for 2017 has been estimated at about $20,000.

Randy Grauer, the city’s general manager of community services, said he accepted responsibility for ensuring rules for closing parking stalls were applied more consistently this year to maximize revenue.

Council was told event organizers were informed about the change when they applied to stage a special event, although informal discussions were held with some groups.

Tourism Saskatoon president Todd Brandt appeared at Tuesday’s council meeting to argue against the added charge, noting events increase parking revenue by drawing people to paid onstreet parking districts.

Tourism provides a $539-million boost to the Saskatoon economy and employs 15,000 people, and festivals play an important role, Brandt noted.

“The fact is, we’re an event-driven tourism economy in this city.”

Coun. Randy Donauer said moving the jazz festival free stage to Kiwanis Park north of the Delta Bessborough hotel from Friendship Park is necessary because of continued construction of the Traffic Bridge.

“It’s coming at an awkward time and putting both the jazz festival and city council in a bit of a bind,” Donauer said. “Now is not a really good time in the tourism industry in Saskatoon.”

Moving the free stage will cost this year’s jazz festival $12,000 to $15,000 more overall, Donauer added. The total budget for the jazz festival is $1.9 million.

“We are looking at different ways to find costs savings, but we don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.

I have a broader concern than just what’s happening with the jazz festival. I am concerned about saddling these events with unanticipated costs.